He’s left someone out, and I can’t tell if it’s on purpose or not. Despite knowing better, I can’t help but ask.
“And Naomi?”
Nick moves his gaze from the TV to me then back to the TV. “What about her?”
“Does she forgive me? Or was she ever upset that I kinda… ghosted.”
Nick laughs then shakes his head. “You’re kidding, right? Nay was a fucking mess when you went off with your dad. She used to cry every fucking night. Stopped eating dinner at the table because she’d just sit there and stare at your empty seat. Mom was ready to put her in goddamn therapy. It tore her up, man.”
Shock slams into me. Maybe I assumed she’d be upset, or even a darker part of me hoped it. I didn’t know it was… like that, though.
“You never told me,” I say quietly.
Nick and I had loosely stayed in touch, but he’d only ever tell me the family was good. Small updates about him or Anthony, sometimes even Naomi. But never once did he mention she was… struggling.
Nick’s light-hearted smile dims, and he shrugs. “I didn’t want you to feel bad. I know you did what you had to do. In a way, Mom did too. Nay, though? She was too young. She didn’t get it.”
“She’s not that much younger than us,” I point out quickly.
“Maybe not in years, but she’s sheltered. I don’t even think she knows what an MC does. Hell, I’m sure I don’t have a clue,”he says, laughing, then gestures to my split-open hands, which are resting on the bar.
Slowly, I move them into my lap out of view as Nick claps my shoulder.
“Don’t sweat it, man. She’s grown up a lot. College has been good for her. She’s dated a few guys. Still has her two best friends by her side. If she’s still holding a grudge, I’m sure she’ll let it go soon.”
“Who?” I ask sharply.
“Hm?”
“Who has she dated?”
Nick looks to the ceiling like he’s trying to remember the names. “Uh, there was one dude she went to prom with—Ben or Brad or some shit. He was a tool. Then there was… oh fuck, what was his name? I think Marc? He was a few years younger than me but in my fraternity.”
An irrational level of anger pulses through me just imagining any of those little weasel fucks putting their hands on her, taking her out, touching her.
My fists curl tightly in my lap, and I close my eyes as I do everything I can to reign in my anger. I have no right to feel this way. I wasn’t around. I’m sure they were good guys, and Naomi has always been a smart girl. It still doesn’t kill my desire to hunt every one of those motherfuckers down and make sure they treated her right; make sure they didn’t place one goddamn toe out of line.
Nick clearly doesn’t get it—he couldn’t because I never let him in on any of this shit. Leaving was one of the hardest things I ever had to do, but it wasn’t about school or him or even Mom. It was leaving her that nearly killed me. And apparently, it nearly killed her too.
Chapter Nine
Naomi
I’m lying in bed, replaying dinner from the other night over and over in my head. Each time I do, it cracks my chest open a little more, like my own personal brand of torture. I have to stop. I have to push him and that night at the club out of my head once and for all. It was a mistake, clearly, and the only way forward is pretending it never happened.
Even I don’t buy my own crap, though.
Spring break is almost over, and I’m not going to waste it wallowing over Kolter. I’ve done enough of that to last me a lifetime.
I make my way downstairs and find Mom sitting at the table, enjoying breakfast before her shift starts. She works so hard, even to this day. I know she doesn’t have a clue how amazing she is. Once I’m finished with college, I’m going to get an amazingly good job and help her get ahead of… everything. She deserves to take a break, slow down, live.
“Morning, sweet girl,” my mom says, smiling as I press a kiss to the top of her head.
“Morning, Mama,” I reply, taking a seat beside her.
“Any fun plans for the day? Spring break is almost over,” she reminds me.
Honestly, don’t need the reminder. I enjoy school, and I’m kinda bored without it. I contemplated getting a part-time job like Cassi, but with all the advanced classes I take, my workload is full. Still, a job would help during breaks like this.